EP.247 Jealousy
The next day, in the laboratory.
[I’ve sent five so far.]
After checking the concise text sent by Marcella, I deleted the record.
Because Silvia was coming out of the bathroom.
With a bright face, she approached and, upon seeing the draft of the twin swords I designed, seemed very pleased.
“Do it like this.”
“What about the parts to emphasize?”
“I hope the handle isn’t slippery. I think I’ll have to hold it to know the rest, but for now, I’m very satisfied.”
“Polymers are hard to obtain… If you have any requests regarding the design, please let me know. Once we start making it, it will be hard to modify. There’s still plenty of time, so think about it and let me know if there’s anything to change.”
“I’ll do that. But do you have something going on? Why do you look so bad?”
“Me?”
“Yeah. You have a look like you could kill someone. I can feel the murderous intent.”
Don’t read into things like murderous intent.
That’s where suspicion starts.
I shrugged my shoulders and answered.
“Nothing’s wrong. I’m just a bit tired.”
“Really…? Shouldn’t Dr. Jennifer Cash be returning by now after resting this much? Should I call her?”
“Leave her be. She’s been running non-stop until now, so she needs to rest properly.”
“Isn’t that the same for you?”
“I haven’t been here long, but Dr. Jennifer Cash is different. She’s been creating and running this place for a long time.”
With a slightly scolding tone, Silvia flinched and came out in a low posture.
“I know… I know, but I’m worried because you keep saying you’re tired.”
“I’m not tired because of work.”
Silvia would know exactly what I’m talking about.
As expected, she subtly avoided my gaze.
She’s curious about the things Adeline and I did, but her expression makes it clear it’s awkward to ask.
I chuckled inwardly and asked.
“By the way, are you thinking about charging Aiter? You know it’s charged through sexual acts with someone you like, right?”
“Wh-what… I’ll handle that myself! Mind your own business…!”
“Demons are appearing, so it’s hard not to be concerned.”
“Ah, I said I’ll handle it myself!”
What do you mean handle it yourself? The only person you can meet is me.
Doesn’t it feel forced to meet a guy now because of Aiter? That’s why it’s awkward.
Right, you touched my dick too.
You tried to take advantage of me when I was pretending to sleep at the Grand Canyon.
So don’t get mad, act a bit shy… but with pride, push forward.
I’ll pretend I have no choice but to accept it, okay? Like when you touched my body.
“Calm down. Do you want some water?”
“…No.”
“Alright.”
Silently looking over the twin sword designs again, I turned my head when Silvia brought an ion drink and plopped down on the chair next to me.
“What?”
“I’m just watching! Why?”
“Then go ahead.”
“You keep working even though you’re tired? Are you a workaholic?”
“Does watching include small talk?”
“….”
Silvia, who seemed to have run out of things to say, fell silent.
She seems to be glaring at me as if she wants to kill me.
After fiddling with the computer for about 10 minutes, I glanced at Silvia.
She was staring at the screen with the twin sword designs, her arms resting on the desk in front of the keyboard.
Her slightly dazed expression adds another charm.
I’m not in the mood to work, and I have no intention of forcing myself…
Silvia seems bored too… So what’s left? A date.
I turned off the monitor and asked.
“I can’t focus today. Want to watch a movie?”
“A movie…? Where? The lounge?”
“The movie theater. We need to get out of the lab.”
“Don’t we have to work?”
“You just called me a workaholic, and now you’re saying something else? Let’s go watch a movie to refresh.”
“…Alright… I guess.”
She pretends to reluctantly agree, but it’s clear she’s quite pleased.
I grabbed my coat from the stand-style hanger and put a hat on Silvia’s head as she followed.
Then Silvia tried to push my hand away.
“What are you doing! You’ll mess up my hair!”
“Stay still if you don’t want attention.”
“Attention?”
“You put on makeup. You’re bound to attract attention.”
It was a roundabout way of saying she’s pretty.
Understanding the hidden meaning in my words, Silvia closed her mouth and lowered her hand.
I lightly smiled, approached her from behind, untied the hat’s string, and placed her hair in the hole at the back.
Then I rummaged through my pocket, took out a basic hair tie Adeline used, tied her hair, and tightened the string again.
Her long, bright red hair in a ponytail.
As I tidied the ends, I casually continued.
“Don’t people usually stare at you?”
“I don’t know… I never noticed…”
“With that red hair like a delinquent, they must have stared at you many times. You stand out wherever you go.”
“This is real…”
Silvia was about to get angry, but when I adjusted the hat’s brim, she quickly calmed down.
“Shall we go?”
“…Let’s go.”
@@
Clunk!
As soon as I opened the door, there was a rapid sound of footsteps, and Adeline popped out.
Silvia smiled warmly at Adeline, who was beaming at her.
That high tension always makes me feel good.
At the same time, I felt sorry.
I want to charge Aiter as soon as possible to protect people…
But the fact that I have to do it with Jihyuk, whom Adeline loves so much, pricks my conscience.
If I could, I’d find another man, but none caught my eye.
Even if I forced myself to find one, I wouldn’t like them, so how could I charge Aiter?
Apart from that, I kept thinking that maybe I was using charging as an excuse to get closer to Jihyuk.
Even so, I felt pathetic and annoyed at myself for pushing forward.
“Sis! Did you enjoy the movie?”
The movie? I didn’t even watch it properly.
Jihyuk kept pushing popcorn at me, and our elbows bumped.
“Yeah. Did Jihyuk tell you?”
“Yes! He left me out and gave me a stern talking-to!”
A stern talking-to…
I can imagine Adeline feeling very hurt and Jihyuk being restless.
I feel like I’ve committed the sin of driving a wedge between two close people.
No, I’ve already sinned. At the Grand Canyon, I had bad intentions and fiddled with Jihyuk’s private parts.
I was trash. Do I deserve to have Aiter with such a filthy mind?
I don’t know if charging will work with such a wretched heart.
Silvia, barely suppressing her turbulent emotions, hugged Adeline tightly.
“I’m sorry…”
At those words, Adeline, acting mature, patted Silvia’s back.
“It’s okay. Next time, the three of us can watch together!”
That’s not what I’m sorry for…
Silvia wrapped her arms around Adeline’s neck and buried her face in her shoulder.
Feeling the warmth of her younger sister, Silvia impulsively said something.
“Can I learn about the Rosario Church too?”
Then Adeline made a surprised sound and pulled away from Silvia.
Her eyes widened, and then she smiled brightly.
Adeline clapped her hands.
“That’s a great idea!”
“Uh… just a taste… can I start by reading the Bible?”
“Of course! Wait a moment…”
Adeline quickly went into her room and brought all the Bibles she had written.
She carefully placed them on the table.
“Even one page a day is fine! If you have any questions while reading, feel free to ask anytime! Jihyuk has the transitional version, but you can start with Genesis!”
Her enthusiasm is no joke.
With her tension even higher than before, Silvia, feeling dazed, nodded her head.
“Uh… okay…”
“If you want to take formal lessons later, let me know!”
“Alright… thanks.”
“I should be thanking you!”
Watching Adeline cheer, Silvia suddenly thought of the noble power of Divine Power.
Adeline can use that power without relying on Aiter.
If I could use Divine Power too… I wouldn’t have to be so anxious.
But to use that power, you need faith.
You also need to be chosen as a saint.
It’s absolutely not a power someone like me, who’s just looking for a place to lean on to calm and comfort my shaky mental state, can use.
“I wish I could too. You said to start with Genesis, right?”
“Yes!”
Silvia walked to the table, looked at the enormous thickness of the books, clicked her tongue, and picked up the top one.
“I’ll start reading right away.”
Then she awkwardly smiled and returned to her room.
Adeline, watching Silvia’s retreating figure with a pleased expression, suddenly tilted her head.
‘Huh…?’
She saw the red string tied in Silvia’s hair.
It was disposable and a very common basic design, but…
It was definitely the hair tie Jihyuk used to tie her hair when she was too lazy to do it herself.
‘Why does sis have that…’
A strange unease filled Adeline, and she hurried into her room.
She took out her phone and called Jihyuk.
After two rings, Jihyuk answered.
-Yes, Adeline.
Feeling the low, deep voice tickle her ear, Adeline spoke.
“I just… wanted to see if you got home safely…”
-I told you via text that I was going to the lab. But why are you calling?
“What do you mean…?”
-You sound down. Are you still angry?
“That’s not it… Jihyuk, did you give sis a hair tie?”
-A hair tie? A hair tie… Hmm…
Jihyuk thought for a moment and then continued.
-Oh, that… I just had it in my pocket and tied her hair.
What? He even tied her hair?
Silvia knows how to tie her own hair, so why!?
Adeline exhaled sharply and raised her voice slightly.
“Why?”
-Huh?
“Why did you tie her hair? Was she having trouble?”
-No, not that… it just happened… and the red color matched Silvia well…
Just happened? Matched her well?
He’s saying all the things that would make anyone furious.
-…Did I do something wrong?
Even asking if he did something wrong… Is he serious right now!?
Jihyuk is really an idiot! No matter how nice he is, he shouldn’t do things like that!
Even if it’s a habit, he must fix it!
Besides, who in the world uses their girlfriend’s things on another woman?
“Jihyuk. I’m coming to the lab right now, so get ready to meet me.”
-Right now? Okay… got it.
Click.
Adeline coldly hung up and angrily grabbed her coat.
As she came out to the living room, she glanced at Silvia’s firmly closed door.
Silvia is a precious colleague whom I consider family with Jihyuk.
I wanted them to get closer, but I didn’t like the idea of them getting closer through actions that could create a strange atmosphere between a man and a woman.
“I’m going to meet Jihyuk now!”
Adeline deliberately spoke loudly and left the house without waiting for Silvia’s response.